Trump Administration Asks Supreme Court to Restore Low-Cost TV Ad Rates for Parties in 2026 Midterms
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Oct 8
Trump Administration Asks Supreme Court to Restore Low-Cost TV Ad Rates for Parties in 2026 Midterms
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Oct 8
Summary
An emergency application filed Thursday asks the Supreme Court to step back into a fight over whether political parties can buy TV ads at the same discounted rates as candidates.
A federal appeals court ruled Wednesday against the administration, prompting Solicitor General D. John Sauer to call the order a “flagrant abuse” that tried to sidestep the justices’ earlier action.
Last month, the Supreme Court had handed Republicans a temporary win by saying parties and joint fundraising committees could, for now, receive the same low-cost rates long reserved for candidates.
The dispute matters because Democrats were seen as benefiting under the old candidate-only rule, while Republicans now stand to gain more as party committees hold the fundraising edge ahead of contested midterm elections.